Evidence is that 2013 was the coolest in history .. in cultural terms .. being the 17th consecutive year of no warming. Obama admits he screwed up, but if you want him to fix what he did, then you are screwed. If you want to see what Obama could do to the best parts of the US, visit Tasmania. If you want to see what Obama is doing to the rest of the US, visit Detroit.
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Happy birthday and many happy returns to those born on this day, across the years, along with
- 1118 – Thomas Becket, English archbishop (d. 1170)
- 1401 – Masaccio, Italian painter (d. 1428)
- 1603 – Roger Williams, English theologian and politician, founded the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations (d. 1684)
- 1734 – Paul Revere, American silversmith and patriot (d. 1818)
- 1804 – Benjamin Disraeli, English politician, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (d. 1881)
- 1850 – William Wallace Lincoln, American son of Abraham Lincoln (d. 1862)
- 1878 – Jan Łukasiewicz, Polish philosopher and mathematician (d. 1956)
- 1940 – Ray Hildebrand, American singer-songwriter (Paul & Paula)
- 1940 – Frank Zappa, American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer (The Mothers of Invention) (d. 1993)
- 1948 – Samuel L. Jackson, American actor and producer
- 1954 – Chris Evert, American tennis player
- 1966 – Kiefer Sutherland, English-Canadian actor, director, and producer
- 1994 – Eva Paalma, Estonian tennis player
Matches
- 69 – The Roman Senate declares Vespasian as Roman emperor, the last in the Year of the Four Emperors.
- 1361 – The Battle of Linuesa is fought in the context of the Spanish Reconquista between the forces of the Emirate of Granada and the combined army of the Kingdom of Castile and of Jaén resulting in a Castilian victory.
- 1620 – Plymouth Colony: William Bradford and the Mayflower Pilgrims land on what is now known asPlymouth Rock in Plymouth, Massachusetts.
- 1826 – American settlers in Nacogdoches, Mexican Texas, declare their independence, starting theFredonian Rebellion.
- 1907 – The Chilean Army commits a massacre of at least 2,000 striking saltpeter miners in Iquique, Chile.
- 1910 – An underground explosion at the Hulton Bank Colliery No. 3 Pit in Over Hulton, Westhoughton, England, kills 344 miners.
- 1937 – Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, the world's first full-length animated feature, premieres at the Carthay Circle Theatre.
- 1941 – World War II: A formal treaty of alliance between Thailand and Japan is signed in the presence of the Emerald Buddha in Wat Phra Kaew, Thailand.
- 1967 – Louis Washkansky, the first man to undergo a heart transplant, dies in Cape Town, South Africa, having lived for 18 days after the transplant.
Despatches
- 72 – Thomas the Apostle (b. 1 AD)
- 1807 – John Newton, English soldier and clergyman (b. 1725)
- 1940 – F. Scott Fitzgerald, American author (b. 1896)
- 1945 – George S. Patton, American military commander (b. 1885)
DON’T THROW A SANDWICH, MAN
Tim Blair – Saturday, December 21, 2013 (3:18pm)
Someone is unhappy:
WARMY JAILED
Tim Blair – Saturday, December 21, 2013 (2:35pm)
Climate change official John Beale is going to the big house after claiming to be a CIA spy working in Pakistan so he could avoid his real job:
In September, Beale pleaded guilty to theft of government property and agreed to pay $886,186 in restitution and to forfeit another $507,207. On Wednesday he was sentenced to 32 months in federal prison …Beale was no low-level bureaucrat, unknown to senior officials and operating in the depths of the agency. He was among the EPA’s most senior, most highly paid officials, one entrusted with formulating the agency’s most controversial policies. Thus the consequences of his EPA tenure go far beyond the specific fraud for which he will now go to prison …Beale’s attorney John Kern says his client “has come to recognize that, beyond the motive of greed, his theft and deception were animated by a highly self-destructive and dysfunctional need to engage in excessively reckless, risky behavior.” Mr. Kern adds that Beale was motivated “to manipulate those around him through the fabrication of grandiose narratives” because of “his insecurities.”
He’s a typical warmy, in other words, with his community’s usual fantasy addictions:
Beale secured a coveted handicap parking spot at the workplace he wasn’t going to by claiming to have malaria, which he didn’t, from serving in Vietnam, where he’d never been.
So what did Beale get up to during all his years of office dodging?
When Huvelle asked Beale what he was doing when he claimed he was working for the CIA, he said, “I spent time exercising. I spent a lot of time working on my house.”He also said he used the time “trying to find ways to fine tune the capitalist system” to discourage companies from damaging the environment. “I spent a lot of time reading on that,” said Beale.
The former EPA climate guru now has another 32 peaceful months to continue his research. Summary from Michelle Cottle :
In the case of Beale’s fabulism, bigger really was better. At least, that is, until it landed him in federal court. But, hell, it took them 20 years to catch him. Just think of all the fun he had in the meantime.
Warmies have had fun for at least 20 years, much of it using public money. A terrible reckoning now draws nigh.
ONE COOL YEAR
Tim Blair – Saturday, December 21, 2013 (1:23pm)
This year was the best in history, according to the Spectator. And here’s one reason why:
2013 marks the 17th year of no warming on the planet. It marks the first time that James Hansen, Al Gore’s guru and the one whose predictions set off the global warming scare, admitted that warming had stopped. It marks the first time that major media enforcers of the orthodoxy — the Economist, Reuters and the London Telegraph – admitted that the science was not settled on global warming, the Economist even mocking the scientists’ models by putting them on “negative watch.” Scientific predictions of global cooling – until recently mostly shunned in the academic press for fear of being labeled crackpot – were published and publicized by no less than the BBC, a broadcaster previously unmatched in the anthropogenic apocalyptic media.
(Via the GWPF)
NEEDS MORE ACTION
Tim Blair – Saturday, December 21, 2013 (1:17pm)
Throw in a few special effects here and there, and Stephen Chow’s latest could really be worth seeing:
(Via David Thompson)
(Via David Thompson)
CAUSE AND EFFECT
Tim Blair – Saturday, December 21, 2013 (12:45pm)
An unintentional but completely accurate admission from Barack Obama:
The president described the health care roll-out as his biggest mistake: “Since I’m in charge, obviously we screwed it up.”
He should probably seek a less demanding form of employment.
UPDATE. The President’s latest genius idea to sell Obamacare involves a hipster in a onesie:
(Via Iowahawk, who writes: “I’m sipping hot cocoa in my plaid footsie jammies and ready to talk about insurance ... laaaaadies.")
(Via Iowahawk, who writes: “I’m sipping hot cocoa in my plaid footsie jammies and ready to talk about insurance ... laaaaadies.")
RADIO TIM
Tim Blair – Friday, December 20, 2013 (8:31pm)
Tonight on 2GB with Michael McLaren we discuss the latest leftoid meltdown.
TOASTIE THROWN
Tim Blair – Friday, December 20, 2013 (1:42pm)
It turns out that Guardian columnist Van Badham’s capacity for indulgent hysteria was inherited from her father:
When I was 13, my dad left one job after he had been offered another one – and the new job fell through. My parents had only just taken out a mortgage, and now dad was unemployed ...The events which pushed dad into unemployment were entirely beyond his control – just like Holden’s collapse is not to blame on its workers – but he was humiliated by them anyway. He was a man who defined himself by a willingness to work hard, and his ambitions were simple: to look after my mother and provide his only child everything he could to realise her dreams. When he became unemployed the two simple pillars of his character – his self-belief and role as a provider – were annihilated by forces beyond his control.I can now write about this openly only because my beloved father is dead. He was a fantastically resilient man who never cried but with the sense of personal failure that accompanied the disappearance of his income, he talked about killing himself. He raged at my mother for staying with him. He raged at me and when I made him a cheese toastie as a peace offering, he hurled it against the wall. I had failed to comprehend that my acts of charity were corroding any self-esteem he had left.
Or maybe he just didn’t like crappy sandwiches. Throw it on the ground! Anyway, for how long did this fellow endure what Badham describes as the “horrific stress of unemployment” and “the soul-shattering destruction of pride that goes with unemployment”? How long did it take before this victim of vicious capitalism found another job?
A total of six weeks.
UPDATE. The extract above is now expanded to give even greater insight into Van’s family tragedy, which basically goes like this: Dad quit his job. Then his new job didn’t happen. A month-and-a-half later, he got a job somewhere else. In the meantime he threw away a sandwich. This took place 22 years ago. The end.
About Tasmania. A beautiful warning
Andrew Bolt December 20 2013 (9:49pm)
In Tasmania:
- the Tasman Peninsula, simply lovely and made lovelier still by not being wilderness, is marred only by the world’s biggest collection of “for sale” signs outside homes, abandoned housing lots, holiday houses and farms.
- even the Penitentiary at Port Arthur, built by convict labor, is more beautiful than almost anything built in Hobart in the past 50 years by free men, under the instruction of the best-educated architects.
- the MONA museum, built with a gambler’s money, is a rare example of indifferent art being made to seem twice as good by the building and the élan of the founder and his curators. The museum is actually the work of art, with the art works just components of the whole. Some of the art is, literally, shit.
- if Hobart’s city council had not been so keen to improve the city Hobart would be even better. I cannot believe many of the newer buildings are more handsome than what they replaced.
- Hobart’s museum caught a dose of the illness that virtually killed Melbourne’s museum. Objects are displayed with a bower bird’s eye for pretty and shiny. Explanations at times are minimal. Attitude is often rated above knowledge. The Aboriginal section has been handed over to Aboriginal curators for fashionable preaching about identity and dispossession. Lots of space is wasted. Little European settlement history is covered, although there is some interesting stuff on the great Mawson. Convicts are described as the “dispossessed” who in turn dispossessed Aborigines.
- there is a nice display on the Tasmanian tiger. I am sad it’s extinct but am less sure why it really matters. If Tasmanians worried less about such things, would the state have done a lot better? It has the oldest surviving Catholic church in Australia and the oldest stone bridge. Its colony was something when Melbourne was nothing. Now it is our poorest state. Memo to Greens: you can’t eat scenery.
- a local paper interviews six women who all complain about the lack of Christmas decorations. All are friends and relatives of Middle Eastern background, and one has the surname Mohamed.
- the art work in the Tasmanian art gallery that best sums up a gorgeous state led astray by its elite is an illuminated photograph of an artist who, having shaken the hand of a token Aboriginal then hangs himself apparently for being white.
- Nearby a video installation shows another whie artist who has taken off his clothes, stuck feathers or fluff on his well-fed body and now is filmed stumbling awkwardly on unshoed feet in the bush. It is unclear what he seeks. Civilisation? A grant? I am, however, certain he did find his clothes again and spent the night in a comfortable bed. He was pretending.
- a lot of people are out of work on this island. Most of the place has been turned into a national park. That is great for artists wanting to hobble around the bush naked, with just a few feathers glued to their hide. It is less good for people wanting to cut down some trees to make furniture, houses and paper.
- Daci and Daci is a most excellent bakery and cake shop. I recommend the pistachio and rose water meringue.
- if I had to hide myself somewhere beautiful to write a book or flee the madness of contemporary culture I would probably choose the Tasman Peninsula. I just wish I knew more about boat engines. But that would bore me.
===- the Tasman Peninsula, simply lovely and made lovelier still by not being wilderness, is marred only by the world’s biggest collection of “for sale” signs outside homes, abandoned housing lots, holiday houses and farms.
- even the Penitentiary at Port Arthur, built by convict labor, is more beautiful than almost anything built in Hobart in the past 50 years by free men, under the instruction of the best-educated architects.
- the MONA museum, built with a gambler’s money, is a rare example of indifferent art being made to seem twice as good by the building and the élan of the founder and his curators. The museum is actually the work of art, with the art works just components of the whole. Some of the art is, literally, shit.
- if Hobart’s city council had not been so keen to improve the city Hobart would be even better. I cannot believe many of the newer buildings are more handsome than what they replaced.
- Hobart’s museum caught a dose of the illness that virtually killed Melbourne’s museum. Objects are displayed with a bower bird’s eye for pretty and shiny. Explanations at times are minimal. Attitude is often rated above knowledge. The Aboriginal section has been handed over to Aboriginal curators for fashionable preaching about identity and dispossession. Lots of space is wasted. Little European settlement history is covered, although there is some interesting stuff on the great Mawson. Convicts are described as the “dispossessed” who in turn dispossessed Aborigines.
- there is a nice display on the Tasmanian tiger. I am sad it’s extinct but am less sure why it really matters. If Tasmanians worried less about such things, would the state have done a lot better? It has the oldest surviving Catholic church in Australia and the oldest stone bridge. Its colony was something when Melbourne was nothing. Now it is our poorest state. Memo to Greens: you can’t eat scenery.
- a local paper interviews six women who all complain about the lack of Christmas decorations. All are friends and relatives of Middle Eastern background, and one has the surname Mohamed.
- the art work in the Tasmanian art gallery that best sums up a gorgeous state led astray by its elite is an illuminated photograph of an artist who, having shaken the hand of a token Aboriginal then hangs himself apparently for being white.
- Nearby a video installation shows another whie artist who has taken off his clothes, stuck feathers or fluff on his well-fed body and now is filmed stumbling awkwardly on unshoed feet in the bush. It is unclear what he seeks. Civilisation? A grant? I am, however, certain he did find his clothes again and spent the night in a comfortable bed. He was pretending.
- a lot of people are out of work on this island. Most of the place has been turned into a national park. That is great for artists wanting to hobble around the bush naked, with just a few feathers glued to their hide. It is less good for people wanting to cut down some trees to make furniture, houses and paper.
- Daci and Daci is a most excellent bakery and cake shop. I recommend the pistachio and rose water meringue.
- if I had to hide myself somewhere beautiful to write a book or flee the madness of contemporary culture I would probably choose the Tasman Peninsula. I just wish I knew more about boat engines. But that would bore me.
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Former PR exec? - ed
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Menacing Skies over Springfield, Colorado.
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www.news.com.au
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www.news.com.au
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www.news.com.au
Character reformed? - ed===
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en.wikipedia.org
Norma Ann Sykes (born 19 May 1936), better known as Sabrina, was a 1950s English...See more
Post by Doctor Who.
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Michelle Malkin
Mötley Crüe's Nikki Sixx quietly deletes late-night attacks on Phil Robertson, but Twitchy is forever!http://twitchy.com/2013/
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Join us for a free dinner seminar & learn how your bed can help overcome your problem.
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Sarah Palin
A Christmas Call to Action…
Here's the choice: will we succumb to politically correct Thought Police and let the intolerants stifle freedom? Or will we be just a little bit brave and take a stand to protect the heart of America, which beats with freedom? The latter will make you Happy, Happy, Happy! This Duck Dynasty controversy is another reminder of the chilling effect we see with the right to express a faith-filled opinion that some may disagree with. It's the issue addressed in "Good Tidings and Great Joy." Here's a nice video about the book by CBN noting how the book is a Christmas "call to action" to inspire us to be fearless. Be empowered in expressing the positive message of faith on something greater than self, and please don't cower or hide because of intolerants who would marginalize any expression of faith (even non-controversial ones like a simple Nativity scene!):http://cbn.com/tv/2914888991001
www.cbn.com
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Madu Odiokwu Pastorvin
Heavenly Father, today I submit my dreams, desires and thoughts to You. Use my imagination for Your purposes. Help me to see the dreams You’ve placed within me coming to pass. Help me to see myself rising higher in every area and bring You glory in everything I do in Jesus’ name. Amen.
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Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
(1 Timothy 6:12, NIV)
One of the keys to seeing your dreams come to pass is to see them come to pass in your mind’s eye first. It takes obedience; it takes prayer, and it has to be a part of God’s plan for our lives. But what I’m saying is that if you’ll keep the right pictures in your imagination, seeing yourself rising higher, seeing yourself healthy and whole, that’s going to get deep down on the inside and set the course for your life. When your mind is in agreement with God’s Word, it will help guide you toward your destiny. You will have a supernatural strength and power to see those dreams and desires come to pass in your life.God bless you.
(1 Timothy 6:12, NIV)
One of the keys to seeing your dreams come to pass is to see them come to pass in your mind’s eye first. It takes obedience; it takes prayer, and it has to be a part of God’s plan for our lives. But what I’m saying is that if you’ll keep the right pictures in your imagination, seeing yourself rising higher, seeing yourself healthy and whole, that’s going to get deep down on the inside and set the course for your life. When your mind is in agreement with God’s Word, it will help guide you toward your destiny. You will have a supernatural strength and power to see those dreams and desires come to pass in your life.God bless you.
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END OF THE YEAR EXHORTATION (The Year Is Not Yet Over)
Many Christians made resolutions or speak a prophetic words of what they want God to do in year 2013 that is ending but many are unresolved as the year comes to an end. What I want to tell you is that 1 minute before midnight of December 31, God can still perform.Allow me to inspire you for a few minutes. I don’t know about you but the year is not yet over. I know that we are just a few days from the New Year and we are abou to initiate brand new plans of what we want God to do for us - we are hoping for some exciting and blessed times in the year to come. But this year is not yet over.
In Exodus Chapter 12 verses one and two, God spoke to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt saying, "This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you."
Here in this verse from Exodus, God is about to deliver the Israelites from 430 years of Egyptian bondage; this is the eve of their departure from their long enslavement. And on this night, God through Moses is instituting a New Year – a new era – He is instituting the sacred calendar so that Israel and the world can know His prophetic plan for the ages. This for Israel is a new beginning - a fresh new start as a freed and redeemed people. They are on the threshold of stepping over into destiny and purpose with God orchestrating this movement with a great demonstration of His power. Here, they were about to step over into something new.I tell you today that next year is prophesied to be the year of destiny. And guess what? We too can step over into something new, a brand new beginning in Jesus Christ.
Since another year hasn’t yet quite arrived, and since we are still here in this year, though a few days left – I must redeem the time of what is left of this year and make the best of it... I know you might be saying, "well, Pastor, what can I expect in these last few days of this year?" I want you to know that you can expect everything that is in line with the will of God... And if you don’t get that healing or if no one stop by and give you a special gift, don’t think that this year will end in failure. But if you would just recommit yourselves to the Lordship of Jesus Christ and renounce all of your setbacks of this year, a great miracle will take place in your soul and in your life. God bless you.
Many Christians made resolutions or speak a prophetic words of what they want God to do in year 2013 that is ending but many are unresolved as the year comes to an end. What I want to tell you is that 1 minute before midnight of December 31, God can still perform.Allow me to inspire you for a few minutes. I don’t know about you but the year is not yet over. I know that we are just a few days from the New Year and we are abou to initiate brand new plans of what we want God to do for us - we are hoping for some exciting and blessed times in the year to come. But this year is not yet over.
In Exodus Chapter 12 verses one and two, God spoke to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt saying, "This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you."
Here in this verse from Exodus, God is about to deliver the Israelites from 430 years of Egyptian bondage; this is the eve of their departure from their long enslavement. And on this night, God through Moses is instituting a New Year – a new era – He is instituting the sacred calendar so that Israel and the world can know His prophetic plan for the ages. This for Israel is a new beginning - a fresh new start as a freed and redeemed people. They are on the threshold of stepping over into destiny and purpose with God orchestrating this movement with a great demonstration of His power. Here, they were about to step over into something new.I tell you today that next year is prophesied to be the year of destiny. And guess what? We too can step over into something new, a brand new beginning in Jesus Christ.
Since another year hasn’t yet quite arrived, and since we are still here in this year, though a few days left – I must redeem the time of what is left of this year and make the best of it... I know you might be saying, "well, Pastor, what can I expect in these last few days of this year?" I want you to know that you can expect everything that is in line with the will of God... And if you don’t get that healing or if no one stop by and give you a special gift, don’t think that this year will end in failure. But if you would just recommit yourselves to the Lordship of Jesus Christ and renounce all of your setbacks of this year, a great miracle will take place in your soul and in your life. God bless you.
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Reveal Yourself To Me.
I love the fact that God reveals Himself to us. He revealed His love to Moses and the children of Israel. Paul writes to the Church, “And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ in this season. The Scripture says,“He revealed his character to Moses and his deeds to the people of Israel.”
Psalms 103:7
God revealed His love to David. Look at what he said, “He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases. He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies. He fills my life with good things. He is compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. He does not punish us for all our sins. He does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve. His unfailing love toward those who fear Him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth. He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west. The LORD is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear Him.” Today, might your heart be ready to receive all that God wants to reveal to you. May you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep His love is.
PRAY.
Father, reveal Your love to me. Help me to know the heights and depths of Your compassion. Help me grasp the greatness of Your mercy and forgiveness.Reveal Yourself to me and help me to know You more.
AMEN.
I love the fact that God reveals Himself to us. He revealed His love to Moses and the children of Israel. Paul writes to the Church, “And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ in this season. The Scripture says,“He revealed his character to Moses and his deeds to the people of Israel.”
Psalms 103:7
God revealed His love to David. Look at what he said, “He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases. He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies. He fills my life with good things. He is compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. He does not punish us for all our sins. He does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve. His unfailing love toward those who fear Him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth. He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west. The LORD is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear Him.” Today, might your heart be ready to receive all that God wants to reveal to you. May you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep His love is.
PRAY.
Father, reveal Your love to me. Help me to know the heights and depths of Your compassion. Help me grasp the greatness of Your mercy and forgiveness.Reveal Yourself to me and help me to know You more.
AMEN.
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Abba Father, today I come boldly to You. I open my heart and mind to Your Word. Fill me with Your strength today; fill me with Your hope, and keep me close to You always as I put You first in everything I do in Jesus’ name. Amen.
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I Urge You To Dream Boldly.
The Scripture says,“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go”(Joshua 1:9, NIV)
When you look out into your future, what do you see? What are the dreams and desires that you hold close to your heart?
So many people start with bold dreams, but then opposition comes. Life doesn’t turn out the way they planned. They lose a loved one or encounter difficulty they didn’t anticipate. Today, if that’s you, I want to remind you that the Creator of the universe designed you with specific gifts and talents that no one else has. He has you on this planet for a specific purpose. When you commit your life to Him, He promises to be with you wherever you go. Even though some things in life may have caught you by surprise, they didn’t catch God by surprise. His good plan for your life remains. You can trust Him because He loves you with an everlasting love, and He doesn’t want to see you settling for anything less than His very best.
I want to encourage you to be bold, be strong and be courageous. Put aside the past and lift up your eyes to Jesus. He is the Author and Finisher of your faith. Live boldly and dream boldly so you can embrace the good things He has in store for you.God bless you.
===The Scripture says,“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go”(Joshua 1:9, NIV)
When you look out into your future, what do you see? What are the dreams and desires that you hold close to your heart?
So many people start with bold dreams, but then opposition comes. Life doesn’t turn out the way they planned. They lose a loved one or encounter difficulty they didn’t anticipate. Today, if that’s you, I want to remind you that the Creator of the universe designed you with specific gifts and talents that no one else has. He has you on this planet for a specific purpose. When you commit your life to Him, He promises to be with you wherever you go. Even though some things in life may have caught you by surprise, they didn’t catch God by surprise. His good plan for your life remains. You can trust Him because He loves you with an everlasting love, and He doesn’t want to see you settling for anything less than His very best.
I want to encourage you to be bold, be strong and be courageous. Put aside the past and lift up your eyes to Jesus. He is the Author and Finisher of your faith. Live boldly and dream boldly so you can embrace the good things He has in store for you.God bless you.
Pastor Rick Warren
'We're not all the same.God gives some the gift of marriage, and to others he gives the gift of singleness." 1 Cor. 7:7 (NLT)
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Tonight I'm praying for all you who are preparing to preach the Good News at Christmas services around the world this next week.
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Do you have the same loving attitude as Jesus has towards those who violate God's standards? (Which includes all of us - Romans 3:23)
"I don't judge the person who doesn't obey my words. For I didn't come to judge the world,but to save it!" JESUS, John.12:47
"I don't judge the person who doesn't obey my words. For I didn't come to judge the world,but to save it!" JESUS, John.12:47
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If someone broke your heart it doesn't mean you should build a wall around it and quit loving. Redirect your love. There are people all around you who need it.
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Post by Joliet Jake.
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A Gallery of Jewellery, Diamond News,Gems & Gemology promoted by www.diamondimports.com.au
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Asscher Cut Diamond, 5.55ct Diamond Ring,made by Cartier in 1922.
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CRYSTAL WATER MARK BEHIND ME MU
I waited behind abundant water
With the hope of calming the soul
Although I look away , but it seems you are always close
I'm waiting indefinitely , because kometmen
Clear glass in front of me makes me know that you are faithful
By standing in flowing water curtain
it is not a barrier but keep me waiting
True love like the cool clear water flowing in the liver
Seductive voices coming but the heart has always attached
For one purpose only happiness and a sense of comfort
My key is tempting to meetings for futility
He just made a false problem .
From the boundary of clear water I always pray for love
drain away with the blessing of prayer
to always sanctify themselves from day to day
Not useless I know nana great - MU
I do not have the gratuitous love me
Not useless If I was chosen to be apple of Your eye
Not useless to me as an inheritance
Although I wasted away in the East horizon
I bet you waiting for me to get back in the arms - MU
Although I like the lost sheep
You selelu hoping to return home Father
Oh ..... Glorious city of Jerusalem
My heart longs to go there, my Father 's house
It was here a blessing and a wonderful flowing
For the descendants of the father of Jacob , Israel .
Avner Sahertian
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<Pollard is the only person ever sentenced to life imprisonment for passing information to an ally, without intent to harm America,
a crime which normally carries a sentence of 2-4 years. This disproportionate sentence in violation of a plea agreement was based not on the indictment but on a memorandum that was never shared with the defense. This is not how American justice is supposed to work.>
hamodia.com
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Lol love the snow plow .. I bet there isn't much call for them usually .. ed===
www.forbes.com
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www.jpost.com
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www.jpost.com
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Post by Untold News.
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www.gatestoneinstitute.org
<After Munich, Winston Churchill delivered the famous phrase: "You were given the choice between war and dishonor. You chose dishonor and you will have war". After Geneva, Israel's Prime Minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, was the only leader expressing disagreement. He spoke of a "historic mistake". Diplomatically, he could not speak of dishonor, although dishonor was plainly evident. And he could he could use the word "betrayal." So given the choice of war or betrayal they chose betrayal and they will get war. One the likes of which they have never seen and, G-d willing, they will never see again.>
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<12/19/2013
"the main foreign policy issue that galvanizes the passions and energies of the committed American Left is the movement to delegitimize Israel’s right to exist" The Left Against Zion>
By CAROLINE B. GLICK http://carolineglick.com/
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United with Israel
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December 21: December solstice (17:11 UTC, 2013);Winter and summer solstices in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres respectively
- 1620 – The Mayflower Pilgrims landed at what is now Plymouth, Massachusetts, establishing the Plymouth Colony.
- 1879 – A Doll's House, a controversial play by Henrik Ibsen that challenged 19th century marriage norms, premiered at theRoyal Theatre in Copenhagen, Denmark.
- 1919 – After serving two years in prison for encouraging people to resist military conscription, anarchist Emma Goldman (pictured) was deported from the United States to Russia.
- 1923 – Nepal and the United Kingdom signed a treaty, the first to define the international status of Nepal as an independent and a sovereign nation.
- 1988 – A total of 270 people were killed when a bomb on board Pan Am Flight 103 exploded while the plane was in flight over Lockerbie, Scotland.
Events[edit]
- 69 – The Roman Senate declares Vespasian as Roman emperor, the last in the Year of the Four Emperors.
- 640 – Muslim Arabs capture Babylon Fortress in the Nile Delta (near Cairo) after a seven-month siege.
- 1140 – Conrad III of Germany besieged Weinsberg.
- 1361 – The Battle of Linuesa is fought in the context of the Spanish Reconquista between the forces of the Emirate of Granada and the combined army of the Kingdom of Castile and of Jaén resulting in a Castilian victory.
- 1598 – Battle of Curalaba: The revolting Mapuche, led by cacique Pelentaru, inflict a major defeat onSpanish troops in southern Chile.
- 1620 – Plymouth Colony: William Bradford and the Mayflower Pilgrims land on what is now known asPlymouth Rock in Plymouth, Massachusetts.
- 1826 – American settlers in Nacogdoches, Mexican Texas, declare their independence, starting theFredonian Rebellion.
- 1832 – Egyptian–Ottoman War: Egyptian forces decisively defeat Ottoman troops at the Battle of Konya.
- 1844 – The Rochdale Society of Equitable Pioneers commences business at its cooperative in Rochdale, England, United Kingdomstarting the Cooperative movement.
- 1861 – Medal of Honor: Public Resolution 82, containing a provision for a Navy Medal of Valor, is signed into law by President Abraham Lincoln.
- 1872 – Challenger expedition: HMS Challenger, commanded by Captain George Nares, sails from Portsmouth, England.
- 1879 – World première of Henrik Ibsen's A Doll's House at the Royal Theatre in Copenhagen, Denmark.
- 1883 – The Royal Canadian Dragoons and The Royal Canadian Regiment, the first Permanent Force cavalry and infantry regiments of theCanadian Army, are formed: .
- 1907 – The Chilean Army commits a massacre of at least 2,000 striking saltpeter miners in Iquique, Chile.
- 1910 – An underground explosion at the Hulton Bank Colliery No. 3 Pit in Over Hulton, Westhoughton, England, kills 344 miners.
- 1913 – Arthur Wynne's "word-cross", the first crossword puzzle, is published in the New York World.
- 1919 – American anarchist Emma Goldman is deported to Russia.
- 1923 – United Kingdom and Nepal formally signed an agreement of friendship, called the Nepal–Britain Treaty of 1923, which superseded the Sugauli Treaty signed in 1816.
- 1937 – Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, the world's first full-length animated feature, premieres at the Carthay Circle Theatre.
- 1941 – World War II: A formal treaty of alliance between Thailand and Japan is signed in the presence of the Emerald Buddha in Wat Phra Kaew, Thailand.
- 1946 – An 8.1 Mw earthquake and subsequent tsunami in Nankaidō, Japan, kills over 1,300 people and destroys over 38,000 homes.
- 1951 – Libya became an independent country.
- 1962 – Rondane National Park is established as Norway's first national park.
- 1967 – Louis Washkansky, the first man to undergo a heart transplant, dies in Cape Town, South Africa, having lived for 18 days after the transplant.
- 1968 – Apollo program: Apollo 8 is launched from the Kennedy Space Center, placing its crew on a lunar trajectory for the first visit to another celestial body by humans.
- 1969 – The United Nations adopts the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.
- 1973 – The Geneva Conference on the Arab–Israeli conflict opens.
- 1979 – Lancaster House Agreement: An independence agreement for Rhodesia is signed in London, England, United Kingdom by Lord Peter Carrington, Sir Ian Gilmour, Robert Mugabe, Joshua Nkomo, Bishop Abel Muzorewa and S.C. Mundawarara.
- 1988 – A bomb explodes on board Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland, killing 270.
- 1992 – A Dutch DC-10, flight Martinair MP 495, crashes at Faro Airport, killing 56.
- 1994 – Mexican volcano Popocatépetl, dormant for 47 years, erupts gases and ash.
- 1995 – The city of Bethlehem passes from Israeli to Palestinian control.
- 1999 – The Spanish Civil Guard intercepts a van loaded with 950 kg of explosives that ETA intended to use to blow up Torre Picasso inMadrid, Spain.
- 2004 – Iraq War: A suicide bomber killed 22 at the forward operating base next to the main U.S. military airfield at Mosul, Iraq, the single deadliest suicide attack on American soldiers.
Births[edit]
- 1118 – Thomas Becket, English archbishop (d. 1170)
- 1401 – Masaccio, Italian painter (d. 1428)
- 1596 – Peter Mogila, Moldovan bishop (d. 1646)
- 1603 – Roger Williams, English theologian and politician, founded the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations (d. 1684)
- 1672 – Benjamin Schmolck, German composer (d. 1737)
- 1682 – Calico Jack, English pirate (d. 1720)
- 1714 – John Bradstreet, English army officer (d. 1774)
- 1728 – Hermann Raupach, German composer (d. 1778)
- 1734 – Paul Revere, American silversmith and patriot (d. 1818)
- 1778 – Anders Sandøe Ørsted, Danish politician, 3rd Prime Minister of Denmark (d. 1860)
- 1795 – John Russell, English hunter and dog breeder (d. 1883)
- 1795 – Leopold von Ranke, German historian (d. 1886)
- 1804 – Benjamin Disraeli, English politician, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (d. 1881)
- 1805 – Thomas Graham, Scottish chemist (d. 1869)
- 1811 – Archibald Tait, English archbishop (d. 1882)
- 1815 – Thomas Couture, French painter and educator (d. 1879)
- 1818 – Amalia of Oldenburg (d. 1875)
- 1830 – Bartolomé Masó, Cuban patriot (d. 1907)
- 1832 – John H. Ketcham, American general and politician (d. 1906)
- 1840 – Namık Kemal, Turkish poet (d. 1888)
- 1843 – Thomas Bracken, Irish-New Zealand poet (d. 1898)
- 1850 – Zdeněk Fibich, Bohemian composer (d. 1900)
- 1850 – William Wallace Lincoln, American son of Abraham Lincoln (d. 1862)
- 1851 – Thomas Chipman McRae, American politician, 26th Governor of Arkansas (d. 1929)
- 1859 – Gustave Kahn, French poet (d. 1936)
- 1866 – Maud Gonne, English-Irish actress and activist (d. 1953)
- 1868 – George W. Fuller, American engineer (d. 1934)
- 1872 – Sidney Ainsworth, English actor (d. 1922)
- 1872 – Lorenzo Perosi, Italian composer (d. 1956)
- 1872 – Albert Payson Terhune, American author and journalist (d. 1942)
- 1873 – Blagoje Bersa, Croatian composer (d. 1934)
- 1876 – Jack Lang, Australian politician, 23rd Premier of New South Wales (d. 1975)
- 1877 – Jaan Sarv, Estonian mathematician and scholar (d. 1954)
- 1878 – Jan Łukasiewicz, Polish philosopher and mathematician (d. 1956)
- 1885 – Frank Patrick, Canadian ice hockey player (d. 1960)
- 1889 – Sewall Wright, American biologist (d. 1988)
- 1890 – Hermann Joseph Muller, American geneticist, Nobel Prize laureate (d. 1967)
- 1891 – John William McCormack, American politician, 53rd Speaker of the United States House of Representatives (d. 1980)
- 1892 – Amy Clarke, English poet (d. 1980)
- 1892 – Walter Hagen, American golfer (d. 1969)
- 1892 – Rebecca West, English journalist and author (d. 1983)
- 1896 – Leroy Robertson, American composer (d. 1971)
- 1903 – Maria Balcerkiewiczówna, Polish actress (d. 1975)
- 1905 – Anthony Powell, English author (d. 2000)
- 1908 – Herbert Hutner, American banker and lawyer (d. 2008)
- 1909 – Seichō Matsumoto, Japanese author and journalist (d. 1992)
- 1911 – Josh Gibson, American baseball player (d. 1947)
- 1913 – Arnold Friberg, American illustrator and painter (d. 2010)
- 1914 – Frank Fenner, Australian microbiologist (d. 2010)
- 1914 – Ivan Generalić, Hungarian-Croatian painter (d. 1992)
- 1915 – Joe Mantell, American actor (d. 2010)
- 1915 – Werner von Trapp, Austrian-American singer (d. 2007)
- 1917 – Heinrich Böll, German author, Nobel Prize laureate (d. 1985)
- 1918 – Donald Regan, American politician, 11th White House Chief of Staff (d. 2003)
- 1918 – Kurt Waldheim, Austrian politician, 9th President of Austria (d. 2007)
- 1920 – Bob Bindig, American illustrator (d. 2007)
- 1920 – Jean Gascon, Canadian actor (d. 1988)
- 1921 – Alicia Alonso, Cuban ballerina and choreographer
- 1921 – Robert Lipshutz, American lawyer (d. 2010)
- 1921 – John Severin, American illustrator (d. 2012)
- 1922 – Itubwa Amram, Nauruan pastor and politician (d. 1989)
- 1922 – Paul Winchell, American ventriloquist and voice actor (d. 2005)
- 1924 – Rita Reys, Dutch singer (d. 2013)
- 1926 – Arnošt Lustig, Czech author (d. 2011)
- 1926 – Joe Paterno, American football player and coach (d. 2012)
- 1928 – Ed Nelson, American actor
- 1931 – David Baker, American composer
- 1932 – Edward Hoagland, American author
- 1933 – Denis E. Dillon, American politician (d. 2010)
- 1934 – Claudio Scimone, Italian conductor
- 1935 – John G. Avildsen, American director
- 1935 – Lorenzo Bandini, Italian race car driver (d. 1967)
- 1935 – Yusuf Bey, American activist (d. 2003)
- 1935 – Phil Donahue, American talk show host and producer
- 1935 – Edward Schreyer, Canadian politician, 22nd Governor General of Canada
- 1937 – Jane Fonda, American actress
- 1937 – Donald F. Munson, American politician
- 1938 – Larry Bryggman, American actor
- 1938 – Frank Moorhouse, Australian author
- 1939 – Lloyd Axworthy, Canadian politician
- 1940 – Arvi Lind, Finnish journalist
- 1940 – Ray Hildebrand, American singer-songwriter (Paul & Paula)
- 1940 – Frank Zappa, American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer (The Mothers of Invention) (d. 1993)
- 1942 – Hu Jintao, Chinese politician, 6th President of the People's Republic of China
- 1942 – Reinhard Mey, German singer-songwriter and guitarist
- 1942 – Anthony Summers, Irish author
- 1942 – Carla Thomas, American singer
- 1943 – André Arthur. Canadian radio host and politician
- 1943 – Albert Lee, English guitarist and songwriter (Heads Hands & Feet and Bill Wyman's Rhythm Kings)
- 1943 – Jack Nance, American actor (d. 1996)
- 1944 – Bill Atkinson, English footballer
- 1944 – Michael Tilson Thomas, American pianist, conductor, and composer
- 1944 – Zheng Xiaoyu, Chinese diplomat (d. 2007)
- 1946 – Christopher Keene, American conductor (d. 1995)
- 1946 – Kevin Peek, Australian guitarist and songwriter (Sky) (d. 2013)
- 1946 – Carl Wilson, American singer-songwriter and guitarist (The Beach Boys) (d. 1998)
- 1947 – Paco de Lucía, Spanish guitarist and songwriter
- 1947 – Bryan Hamilton, Irish footballer
- 1948 – Samuel L. Jackson, American actor and producer
- 1948 – Dave Kingman, American baseball player
- 1948 – Willi Resetarits, Austrian singer and activist
- 1949 – Thomas Sankara, Burkinabé military leader and politician, 5th President of Burkina Faso (d. 1987)
- 1949 – Nikolaos Sifounakis, Greek politician
- 1950 – Jeffrey Katzenberg, American film producer, co-founded DreamWorks Animation
- 1950 – Lillebjørn Nilsen, Norwegian singer-songwriter and guitarist (Gitarkameratene)
- 1951 – Nick Gilder, English-Canadian singer-songwriter (Sweeney Todd)
- 1952 – Joaquín Andújar, Dominican baseball player
- 1953 – Betty Wright, American singer-songwriter
- 1954 – Chris Evert, American tennis player
- 1955 – Jane Kaczmarek, American actress
- 1955 – Kazuyuki Sekiguchi, Japanese singer-songwriter and bass player (Southern All Stars)
- 1956 – Phil Harris, American fisherman (d. 2010)
- 1957 – Tom Henke, American baseball player
- 1957 – Rolf Kanies, German actor
- 1957 – Ray Romano, Italian-American comedian and actor
- 1959 – Florence Griffith Joyner, American sprinter (d. 1998)
- 1960 – Roger McDowell, American baseball player
- 1960 – Sherry Rehman, Pakistani journalist, politician, and diplomat, 25th Pakistan Ambassador to the United States
- 1960 – Andy Van Slyke, American baseball player
- 1961 – Henry Ford Kamel, Ghanaian banker and politician (d. 2012)
- 1961 – Francis Ng, Hong Kong actor
- 1961 – Rein Raud, Estonian scholar and author
- 1961 – Ryuji Sasai, Japanese composer
- 1961 – Del Wilkes, American wrestler
- 1963 – Govinda, Indian actor and politician
- 1964 – Rob Kelly, English footballer and manager
- 1964 – Joe Kocur, Canadian ice hockey player
- 1964 – Daniel Suarez, American author
- 1964 – Fabiana Udenio, Argentine actress
- 1965 – Andy Dick, American actor and comedian
- 1965 – Anke Engelke, Canadian-German comedian and actress
- 1965 – Stuart Mitchell, Scottish composer
- 1966 – Adam Schefter, American journalist
- 1966 – Kiefer Sutherland, English-Canadian actor, director, and producer
- 1966 – Karri Turner, American actress
- 1967 – Ervin Johnson, American basketball player
- 1967 – Fritz Karl, Austrian actor
- 1967 – Terry Mills, American basketball player
- 1967 – Mikheil Saakashvili, Georgian politician, 3rd President of Georgia
- 1969 – Julie Delpy, French-American actress, model, director, and screenwriter
- 1969 – Jack Noseworthy, American actor
- 1969 – Mihails Zemļinskis, Latvian footballer
- 1971 – Matthieu Chedid, French singer-songwriter and guitarist
- 1971 – Fenton Keogh, Australian chef
- 1971 – Brett Scallions, American singer-songwriter and guitarist (Fuel, Manzarek–Krieger, and Circus Diablo)
- 1972 – Gloria De Piero, English journalist
- 1972 – LaTroy Hawkins, American baseball player
- 1972 – Dustin Hermanson, American baseball player
- 1972 – Claudia Poll, Costa Rican swimmer
- 1972 – Y. S. Jaganmohan Reddy, Indian politician
- 1972 – Erwin Schrott, Uruguayan opera singer
- 1973 – Irakli Alasania, Georgian politician and diplomat
- 1973 – Mike Alstott, American football player
- 1973 – Karmen Stavec, German-Slovenian singer
- 1974 – Karrie Webb, Australian golfer
- 1975 – Paloma Herrera, Argentine ballet dancer
- 1976 – Mirela Manjani, Greek javelin thrower
- 1976 – Lukas Rossi, Canadian singer-songwriter and guitarist (Rock Star Supernova and Daylight Division)
- 1977 – A. J. Bowen, American actor
- 1977 – Toby Rand, Australian singer-songwriter (Juke Kartel)
- 1978 – Emiliano Brembilla, Italian swimmer
- 1978 – Mike Vitar, American actor
- 1979 – Tuva Novotny, Swedish actress and singer
- 1979 – Kristjan Sarv, Estonian actor
- 1980 – Royce Ring, American baseball player
- 1980 – Michele Di Piedi, Italian footballer
- 1981 – Frankie Abernathy, American purse designer, castmember on The Real World: San Diego (d. 2007)
- 1981 – Mohammed Jabarah, Kuwaiti terrorist
- 1981 – Sanita Pušpure, Latvian-Irish rower
- 1981 – Lynda Thomas, Mexican singer-songwriter and producer
- 1981 – Cristian Zaccardo, Italian footballer
- 1982 – Eddie Colón, Puerto Rican wrestler
- 1982 – Mike Gansey, American basketball player
- 1982 – Erica Hayden, American psychotherapist
- 1982 – Philip Humber, American baseball player
- 1982 – Iljo Keisse, Belgian cyclist
- 1982 – Tom Payne, English actor
- 1983 – Steven Yeun, American actor
- 1984 – Darren Potter, Irish footballer
- 1985 – James Stewart, Jr., American motorcycle racer
- 1985 – Tom Sturridge, English actor
- 1987 – Ryza Cenon, Filipino actress, dancer and model
- 1987 – Valerie Concepcion, Filipino actress
- 1987 – Brad Howard, Australian footballer
- 1988 – Yasmin, English-Scottish singer-songwriter and DJ
- 1989 – Tamannaah, Indian actress
- 1989 – Mark Ingram, Jr., American football player
- 1990 – Alexa Goddard, English singer
- 1990 – Ioannis Fetfatzidis, Greek footballer
- 1994 – Eva Paalma, Estonian tennis player
Deaths[edit]
- 72 – Thomas the Apostle (b. 1 AD)
- 882 – Hincmar, French archbishop (b. 806)
- 1295 – Margaret of Provence (b. 1221)
- 1308 – Henry I, Landgrave of Hesse (b. 1244)
- 1375 – Giovanni Boccaccio, Italian author and poet (b. 1313)
- 1504 – Bertold von Henneberg-Römhild, German archbishop (b. 1442)
- 1549 – Marguerite de Navarre, French wife of Henry II of Navarre (b. 1492)
- 1597 – Peter Canisius, Dutch priest (b. 1521)
- 1799 – Philip Affleck, English admiral (b. 1726)
- 1807 – John Newton, English soldier and clergyman (b. 1725)
- 1824 – James Parkinson, English physician and paleontologist (b. 1755)
- 1869 – Friedrich Ernst Scheller, German jurist and politician (b. 1791)
- 1873 – Francis Garnier, French explorer (b. 1839)
- 1889 – Friedrich August von Quenstedt, German geologist (b. 1809)
- 1900 – Roger Wolcott, American politician, 39th Governor of Massachusetts (b. 1847)
- 1920 – Mohammed Abdullah Hassan, Somalian military leader, founded the Dervish state (b. 1856)
- 1933 – Knud Rasmussen, Greenlandic explorer and anthropologist (b. 1879)
- 1935 – Kurt Tucholsky, German journalist (b. 1890)
- 1937 – Frank B. Kellogg, American politician, 45th United States Secretary of State, Nobel Prize laureate (b. 1856)
- 1940 – F. Scott Fitzgerald, American author (b. 1896)
- 1945 – George S. Patton, American military commander (b. 1885)
- 1952 – Kenneth Edwards, American golfer (b. 1886)
- 1953 – Kaarlo Koskelo, Finnish wrestler (b. 1888)
- 1957 – Eric Coates, English-American composer (b. 1886)
- 1958 – Lion Feuchtwanger, German author (b. 1884)
- 1959 – Rosanjin, Japanese calligrapher and ceramicist (b. 1883)
- 1964 – Carl Van Vechten, American author and photographer (b. 1880)
- 1963 – Jack Hobbs, English cricketer (b. 1882)
- 1965 – Claude Champagne, Canadian composer (b. 1891)
- 1967 – Stuart Erwin, American actor (b. 1903)
- 1968 – Vittorio Pozzo, Italian football coach (b. 1886)
- 1974 – James Henry Govier, English painter (b. 1910)
- 1974 – Richard Long, American actor (b. 1927)
- 1982 – Abu Al-Asar Hafeez Jullundhri, Pakistani poet and composer (b. 1900)
- 1982 – Ants Oras, Estonian writer and translator (b. 1900)
- 1983 – Paul de Man, Belgian critic (b. 1919)
- 1986 – Bill Simpson, Scottish actor (b. 1931)
- 1987 – John Spence, American singer (No Doubt) (b. 1969)
- 1988 – Nikolaas Tinbergen, Dutch ornithologist, Nobel Prize laureate (b. 1907)
- 1988 – Paul Jeffreys, English rock musician and bassist (Be-Bop Deluxe), he died in the Lockerbie bombing (b. 1952)
- 1989 – Rotimi Fani-Kayode, Nigerian-English photographer (b. 1955)
- 1990 – Clarence Johnson, American engineer, designed the Lockheed U-2 and Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird (b. 1910)
- 1991 – Sheldon Mayer, American comics writer, artist and editor (b. 1917)
- 1992 – Albert King, American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer (b. 1924)
- 1992 – Nathan Milstein, Russian-American violinist (b. 1903)
- 1995 – Charlie Tumahai, New Zealand singer, bass player and songwriter (Be-Bop Deluxe) (b. 1949)
- 1997 – Amie Comeaux, American singer (b. 1976)
- 1998 – Roger Avon, Durham actor (b. 1914)
- 1998 – Karl Denver, Scottish singer (b. 1931)
- 1998 – Ernst-Günther Schenck, German physician (b. 1904)
- 2001 – Dick Schaap, American sports journalist (b. 1934)
- 2003 – Prince Alfonso of Hohenlohe-Langenburg (b. 1924)
- 2004 – Autar Singh Paintal, Indian scientist (b. 1925)
- 2005 – Elrod Hendricks, American baseball player and coach (b. 1940)
- 2006 – Scobie Breasley, Australian jockey (b. 1914)
- 2006 – Saparmurat Niyazov, Turkmen politician, 1st President of Turkmenistan (b. 1940)
- 2007 – Ken Hendricks, American businessman, founded ABC Supply (b. 1941)
- 2009 – Christos Lambrakis, Greek businessman (b. 1934)
- 2009 – Edwin G. Krebs, American biochemist (b. 1918)
- 2010 – Enzo Bearzot, Italian footballer and manager (b. 1927)
- 2012 – Boyd Bartley, American baseball player (b. 1920)
- 2012 – Curtis Crider, American race car driver (b. 1930)
- 2012 – Jishu Dasgupta, Indian actor and director (b. 1956)
- 2012 – Lee Dorman, American bass player (Iron Butterfly and Captain Beyond) (b. 1942)
- 2012 – David Lomon, English soldier (b. 1918)
- 2012 – Shane McEntee, Irish politician (b. 1956)
- 2012 – Thomas W. McGee, American politician (b. 1924)
Holidays and observances[edit]
- Christian Feast Day:
- O Oriens
- Petrus Canisius
- Thomas the Apostle (Anglicanism), (pre-1970 Roman Calendar)
- December 21 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)
- Divalia, in honour of Angerona (Roman Empire)
- Earliest date for the winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere and the summer solstice in the Southern Hemisphere, and its related observances:
- Earliest date for Yule in the Northern Hemisphere, and Midsummer in the Southern Hemisphere. (Neopagan Wheel of the Year)
- Sanghamitta Day (Theravada Buddhism)
- Ziemassvētki (ancient Latvia)
- Forefathers' Day (Plymouth, Massachusetts)
- São Tomé Day (São Tomé and Príncipe)
- The first day of Pancha Ganapati, celebrated until December 25 (India)
“In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.” Luke 2:1, 4-5 NIV
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Morning and Evening by Charles Spurgeon
Morning
"Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love."
Jeremiah 31:3
Jeremiah 31:3
Sometimes the Lord Jesus tells his Church his love thoughts. "He does not think it enough behind her back to tell it, but in her very presence he says, Thou art all fair, my love.' It is true, this is not his ordinary method; he is a wise lover, and knows when to keep back the intimation of love and when to let it out; but there are times when he will make no secret of it; times when he will put it beyond all dispute in the souls of his people" (R. Erskine's Sermons). The Holy Spirit is often pleased, in a most gracious manner, to witness with our spirits of the love of Jesus. He takes of the things of Christ and reveals them unto us. No voice is heard from the clouds, and no vision is seen in the night, but we have a testimony more sure than either of these. If an angel should fly from heaven and inform the saint personally of the Saviour's love to him, the evidence would not be one whit more satisfactory than that which is borne in the heart by the Holy Ghost. Ask those of the Lord's people who have lived the nearest to the gates of heaven, and they will tell you that they have had seasons when the love of Christ towards them has been a fact so clear and sure, that they could no more doubt it than they could question their own existence. Yes, beloved believer, you and I have had times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord, and then our faith has mounted to the topmost heights of assurance. We have had confidence to lean our heads upon the bosom of our Lord, and we have no more questioned our Master's affection to us than John did when in that blessed posture; nay, nor so much: for the dark question, "Lord, is it I that shall betray thee?" has been put far from us. He has kissed us with the kisses of his mouth, and killed our doubts by the closeness of his embrace. His love has been sweeter than wine to our souls.
Evening
"Call the labourers, and give them their hire."
Matthew 20:8
Matthew 20:8
God is a good paymaster; he pays his servants while at work as well as when they have done it; and one of his payments is this: an easy conscience. If you have spoken faithfully of Jesus to one person, when you go to bed at night you feel happy in thinking, "I have this day discharged my conscience of that man's blood." There is a great comfort in doing something for Jesus. Oh, what a happiness to place jewels in his crown, and give him to see of the travail of his soul! There is also very great reward in watching the first buddings of conviction in a soul! To say of that girl in the class, "She is tender of heart, I do hope that there is the Lord's work within." To go home and pray over that boy, who said something in the afternoon which made you think he must know more of divine truth than you had feared! Oh, the joy of hope! But as for the joy of success! it is unspeakable. This joy, overwhelming as it is, is a hungry thing--you pine for more of it. To be a soul-winner is the happiest thing in the world. With every soul you bring to Christ, you get a new heaven upon earth. But who can conceive the bliss which awaits us above! Oh, how sweet is that sentence, "Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord!" Do you know what the joy of Christ is over a saved sinner? This is the very joy which we are to possess in heaven. Yes, when he mounts the throne, you shall mount with him. When the heavens ring with "Well done, well done," you shall partake in the reward; you have toiled with him, you have suffered with him, you shall now reign with him; you have sown with him, you shall reap with him; your face was covered with sweat like his, and your soul was grieved for the sins of men as his soul was, now shall your face be bright with heaven's splendour as is his countenance, and now shall your soul be filled with beatific joys even as his soul is.
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Today's reading: Micah 1-3, Revelation 11 (NIV)
View today's reading on Bible GatewayToday's Old Testament reading: Micah 1-3
1 The word of the LORD that came to Micah of Moresheth during the reigns of Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, kings of Judah—the vision he saw concerning Samaria and Jerusalem.
2 Hear, you peoples, all of you,
listen, earth and all who live in it,
that the Sovereign LORD may bear witness against you,
the Lord from his holy temple.
listen, earth and all who live in it,
that the Sovereign LORD may bear witness against you,
the Lord from his holy temple.
Judgment Against Samaria and Jerusalem
3 Look! The LORD is coming from his dwelling place;
he comes down and treads on the heights of the earth.
4 The mountains melt beneath him
and the valleys split apart,
like wax before the fire,
like water rushing down a slope.
5 All this is because of Jacob’s transgression,
because of the sins of the people of Israel.
What is Jacob’s transgression?
Is it not Samaria?
What is Judah’s high place?
Is it not Jerusalem?
he comes down and treads on the heights of the earth.
4 The mountains melt beneath him
and the valleys split apart,
like wax before the fire,
like water rushing down a slope.
5 All this is because of Jacob’s transgression,
because of the sins of the people of Israel.
What is Jacob’s transgression?
Is it not Samaria?
What is Judah’s high place?
Is it not Jerusalem?
Today's New Testament reading: Revelation 11
The Two Witnesses
1 I was given a reed like a measuring rod and was told, “Go and measure the temple of God and the altar, with its worshipers. 2 But exclude the outer court; do not measure it, because it has been given to the Gentiles. They will trample on the holy city for 42 months. 3 And I will appoint my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.” 4 They are “the two olive trees” and the two lampstands, and “they stand before the Lord of the earth.” 5 If anyone tries to harm them, fire comes from their mouths and devours their enemies. This is how anyone who wants to harm them must die. 6 They have power to shut up the heavens so that it will not rain during the time they are prophesying; and they have power to turn the waters into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they want....
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Lazarus [Lăz'arŭs]—god hath helpedor without help.
- The beggar in the parable of the rich man. This is the only instance where Jesus gives a name to a parabolic character, and there was an idea in early times that it was not a parable but a story from real life (Luke 16:19-31).
- The brother of Mary and Martha of Bethany whom Jesus raised from the dead (John 11; 12:1-17).
The Man Who Lived Again
Alexander Whyte comments,
Lazarus of Bethany comes as near to Jesus of Nazareth, both in his character, and in his services, and in his unparalleled experience, as mortal men ever come. Lazarus'name is never to be read in the new Testament till the appointed time comes when he is to be sick, ...to die, and to be raised from the dead for the glory of God. Nor is his voice heard. Lazarus loved silence. He sought obscurity. He liked to be overlooked. He revelled in neglect...The very Evangelists pass over Lazarus as if he were a worm and no man.
I. He is the subject of the greatest and most startling miracle of the gospel story.
II. He was the friend of Jesus, being loved by Him. Jesus wept at his grave.
III. His resurrection threatened the life of Jesus. The Sanhedrin were determined to put Him to death.
IV. His attendance at Simon’s banquet excited the enthusiasm of the people (John 12:9, 17, 18).
After his presence as an honored guest at Simon’s house, Lazarus vanishes from the gospel story. Of all men, he should have stood by Jesus at His trial and crucifixion. Doubtless Lazarus was forced to flee, seeing that the infuriated elders determined his death (John 12:10, 11). With a deep affection for his Friend, Lazarus would withdraw more for His sake than for his own. He felt his presence only increased the Master’s danger.
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STAR
They went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. - Matthew 2:9-10
In Psalm 19, David gives voice to the stars:
The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world. (Vss. 1-4)
If you have ever stood outside at night and looked up at the canopy of stars, away from the city, away from noise, you may have seen that the stars have a message. In silence they speak, and their voice is thunderous.
The star of Bethlehem, a sign in the sky noted by the Magi, may have been a miraculous event, matching the miraculous entry of the Savior into the world, or it may have been a natural astronomical phenomenon, used by God as a sign. In either case, the heavens were speaking in a unique way about a unique world-changing event. Should that come as any surprise?
But note that only the observant recognized the sign, and in this case, they were outsiders. God drew outsiders toward Bethlehem with a word that he had placed in the sky. Don't ever doubt that God is speaking to the "outsider," and that those who seek will find. Christmas is both for believers, and for those who have yet to come to faith. In those days, it was a celestial sign that attracted the attention of outsiders. Today, there are many signs that Jesus accomplished something unique in the world, acts arise out of and point to his holy character.
Prayer for today:
Lord, thank you for putting your clear markers into this world and into our lives so we can know that you are real, and what you intend to do. May this Christmas be a new marker for me.
This is post #20 in the Christmas devotional “Christmas Joy”. Want to read more from this series? In addition to being posted online, the entire devotional is available in a Kindle e-book (readable on your PC, Mac, iPhone, iPad, Android or Kindle).
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STAR
They went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. - Matthew 2:9-10
In Psalm 19, David gives voice to the stars:
The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world. (Vss. 1-4)
If you have ever stood outside at night and looked up at the canopy of stars, away from the city, away from noise, you may have seen that the stars have a message. In silence they speak, and their voice is thunderous.
The star of Bethlehem, a sign in the sky noted by the Magi, may have been a miraculous event, matching the miraculous entry of the Savior into the world, or it may have been a natural astronomical phenomenon, used by God as a sign. In either case, the heavens were speaking in a unique way about a unique world-changing event. Should that come as any surprise?
But note that only the observant recognized the sign, and in this case, they were outsiders. God drew outsiders toward Bethlehem with a word that he had placed in the sky. Don't ever doubt that God is speaking to the "outsider," and that those who seek will find. Christmas is both for believers, and for those who have yet to come to faith. In those days, it was a celestial sign that attracted the attention of outsiders. Today, there are many signs that Jesus accomplished something unique in the world, acts arise out of and point to his holy character.
Prayer for today:
Lord, thank you for putting your clear markers into this world and into our lives so we can know that you are real, and what you intend to do. May this Christmas be a new marker for me.
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